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DEKALB COUNTY, GA— Four years after its closure, Michelle Obama Park at Intrenchment Creek will officially reopen, marking the return of an important natural and recreational resource for residents and visitors while celebrating a new chapter of connectivity, conservation, and community.
DeKalb County will kick off the celebration with the park’s ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 a.m., 1600 Constitution Road S.E., Atlanta.
The grand re-opening celebration will showcase the County’s $1.8 million Phase I investment in Michelle Obama Park and feature “From Forest to Fabric: Rethinking What You Wear,” an outdoor fashion event highlighting the connection between fashion, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
DeKalb named the new park after former First Lady Michelle Obama to honor her national work promoting healthy eating, exercise, and the “Let’s Move!” initiative. Originally, the DeKalb Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in 2016 to rename a stretch of the South River Trail for Michelle Obama. County leadership continued pushing for trail connectivity and the corresponding park project was successfully tied to the area near Intrenchment Creek Park.
The fashion show, held at nearby Constitution Lakes Park, will culminate Atlanta’s Sustainable Fashion Week, complementing events across the metro area and the celebration of DeKalb’s natural spaces.
“Reopening Michelle Obama Park represents our commitment to investing in the quality of life our residents deserve while protecting the natural resources that make DeKalb County special,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “This park is about much more than recreation. It is about creating connections and building community, while advancing environmental stewardship, alternative transportation, and economic opportunity.”
The county closed Intrenchment Creek Park in 2023 after heated protests over the construction of DeKalb's new nearby police training center wiped out wooded areas.
Phase I of the park development includes a new 0.6-mile, ADA-compliant concrete trail, featuring a boardwalk and scenic views of the surrounding natural environment. The park is also home to DeKalb County’s only remote-controlled airplane field and includes streams that flow into the South River.
Officials said the new trail provides a connection to Gresham Park while expanding access along the 10.17-mile South River Trail, an important component of DeKalb County’s broader vision for an interconnected trail system.
The County took another major step with the recent completion of its decade-long negotiations to acquire the Donzi Trail, which will ultimately help link DeKalb County’s trail network to the Atlanta Beltline and extending to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Rockdale County.
“Our trail network is an investment in healthier communities, mobility, environmental preservation and economic development,” said Christopher Bass, Director of Dekalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Department. “We are building infrastructure that connects people not only to parks and nature, but also to one another.”
The County has set a goal of completing the northern portion of Michelle Obama Park in approximately one year, further expanding recreational access and trail connectivity.
As part of DeKalb County’s commitment to the long-term protection of the park, Michelle Obama Park also will benefit from the stewardship of a full-time Park Naturalist, who will help preserve, protect and enhance its natural environment for future generations.
County officials said Saturday's celebration reflects a shared theme: thoughtful stewardship of the environment and a commitment to creating a more sustainable future.
To obtain a free fashion show ticket - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-fashion-show-festival-from-forest-to-fabric-tickets-1999195303971